Juxtaposable and superposable furniture pieces

ABSTRACT

This set of furniture pieces comprises essentially a standard unit of substantially parallelipipedic or box configuration, so designed that several units of this type can be superposed or juxtaposed to constitute at will any desired wall storage assembly or the like. The upper side edges of each unit are notched to accomodate coupling keys locked in position by the superposition of other units. The bottom of each unit comprises a downwardly projecting rim fitting around a thinned-down and therefore shouldered upper edge of an underlying unit. Drawers adapted to be easily fitted into said units comprise at the top of their rear wall a lug adapted to engage a retaining or stop lug depending from the bottom of the next unit above. The rear portion of the drawer bottom is inclined to permit the tilting of said drawer and its removal from the unit by raising its front end, thus allowing its lug to clear the stop lug of the next unit above. Caster-supported base units and top cover units are provided for completing the assembly.

United States Patent [191 Paris Nov. 11, 1975 1 1 .IUXTAPOSABLE ANDSUPERPOSABLE FURNITURE PIECES [75] Inventor: Boris Paris, Clichy, France22 Filed: Mar. 21, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 453,357

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 29. 1973 France 73.11321[52] US. Cl. 312/111; 206/504; 206/509; 312/283; 312/330 R; 312/348 [51]Int. C15 A47B 87/02; A4713 88/06;

A47B 88/16; F16B 12/12 [58] Field of Search 312/108, 111; 220/16, 17,220/236; 206/503-509 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 946.111l/l9l0 Conrad ..312/lll 2.210.019 8/1940 Zalkind..... 312/108 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1.159.040 10/1956 France 312/108 PrimaryE.\'aminerPaul R. Gilliam Assistant E.\'uminerCarl F. PietruszkaAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [5 7 ABSTRACT This set offurniture pieces comprises essentially a standard unit of substantiallyparallelipipedic or box configuration, so-designed that several units ofthis type can be superposed or juxtaposed to constitute at will anydesired wall storage assembly or the like. The upper side edges of eachunit are notched to accomodate coupling keys locked in position by thesuperposition of other units. The bottom of each unit comprises adownwardly projecting rim fitting around a thinned-down and thereforeshouldered upper edge of an underlying unit. Drawers adapted to beeasily fitted into said units comprise at the top of their rear wall alug adapted to engage a retaining or stop lug depending from the bottomof the next unit above. The rear portion of the drawer bottom isinclined to permit the tilting of said drawer and its removal from theunit by raising its front end, thus allowing its lug to clear the stoplug of the next unit above. Caster-supported base units and top coverunits are provided for completing the assembly.

5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11,1975 Sheet1of4 3,918,781

US. Patent Nov.11,1975 Sheet30f4 3,918,781

Fiox

US. Patent Nov.11, 1975 Sheet40f4 3,918,781

JUXTAPOSABLE AND SUPERPOSABLE FURNITURE PIECES BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates tofurnitures consisting of mutually complementary pieces adapted to beassembled to constitute more or less extended structures such as wallstorage units and the like.

Many types of furniture pieces designed for this purpose have alreadybeen proposed. As a rule, the units constituting these assemblies havesubstantially the appearance of parallelipipedic cases or boxescomprising interfitting means for assembling them one above the other.In most instances other fastening means are provided for assemblingseveral units side by side or even back to back to constitute furniturescomprising several vertical tiers of such pieces.

2. Description of the prior art However, in hitherto known structures ofthis lastmentioned horizontal assembling method, a number ofinconveniences are encountered. Thus, in many cases these fasteningmeans are relatively complicated and expensive. Besides, as thesefastening means ar-.: generally visible they impair the generalappearance of the furniture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a primary object of the presentinvention to provide a set of furniture pieces designed with a view topermit the easy assembling thereof both horizontally and vertically,without the above-mentioned inconveniences. These pieces of furnitureare also designed with a view to permit their juxtaposition andsuperposition, and also to receive storage drawers when necessary.

To this end, the furniture pieces according to this invention compriseunits generally of parallelipipedic or box shape open on one lateralside and having formed in the upper edge of each side wall a notchadapted to register with an identical notch of a juxtaposed unit,substantially I-I-shaped assembling keys being provided for engaging theregistering notches of a pair of juxtaposed units. Besides, the bottomof each unit comprises a downwardly projecting rim adapted to fit aroundthe top edge of an underlying unit and thus hold in position, ifnecessary, the coupling key or keys assembling this unit with one or aplurality of other juxtaposed units.

Thus, the units constituting a plurality of adjacent vertical tiers canbe assembled horizontally as these tiers are erected, with theassistance of said coupling keys. Now these keys are subsequentlycompletely concealed and locked in position, thus precluding anyundesired release therefrom.

Preferably, the means contemplated for assembling the units in thevertical direction consist of notches or openings formed in the upperedge of each unit and snappily engageable by matching hooks or likeanchoring projections carried by the corresponding inner surfaces of thedownwardly projecting rim of said units.

According to another feature characterising the furniture pieces of thisinvention, drawers are also provided; each drawer is adapted to befitted into one of said units, and has its upper back edge formed with aprojecting lug adapted to abute against a retaining lip carried by thelower surface of the bottom of the next overlying unit with respect tothe unit containing the drawer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of aplurality of furniture units according to this invention, shown inexploded view, i.e. before assembling them;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the same units, thesection being taken along a transverse plane;

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the same units in their assembledcondition;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along a longitudinalplane of a drawer-containing unit;

FIG. 5 is a plane view from beneath showing on a smaller scale afurniture element or unit according to this invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing two juxtaposed units pertainingto two adjacent tiers and assembled by means of a coupling key 9;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plane view from above illustrating theassembling of two juxtaposed units;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a typical embodiment of a couplingkey;

FIG. I 9 is a perspective view showing a castersupported base unitadapted to carry the furniture pieces of this invention; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a typical assembly of furnitureunits according to this invention for constituting a unitary storagestructure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The furniture piece assemblyaccording to this invention comprises primarily a plurality or series ofunits 1 of substantially parallelipipedic or box configuration, open onone side (preferably the front side) to facilitate the access thereto.These units 1 are advantageously made of molded plastic material of anysuitable composition.

The upper edge 2 of each unit is thinner than the remaining wallportions in order to provide a peripheral shoulder 3. Now the bottom 4of each unit comprises a downwardly projecting rim adapted to fit aroundthe upper edge 2 of an underlying identical unit when two such units aresuperposed in an assembly.

Notches or openings 6 are formed on either side of the upper edge 2 ofeach unit and matching anchoring projections 7 are formed on the innersurface of each downwardly projecting rim 5 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Thus, it ispossible to assemble a plurality of these units in superposedrelationship by fitting downwardly projecting rim 5 of each unit aroundthe shouldered upper edge 2 of the next unit beneath and causing thecorresponding anchoring projections 7 snappily to engage the openings 6.

However, the three upper edges 2 of each unit 1 further comprise acentral notch 8 adapted to register with a similar notch of an adjacent,identical unit when two such units are juxtaposed or placed in side byside relationship as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. A number ofcoupling keys 9 adapted simultaneously to engage a pair of registeringnotches 8 of juxtaposed units 1 are also provided.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, each key 9 consists of a substantiallyH-shaped plate of which the central web 9a is adapted to be engaged intosaid pair of complementary notches 8 of two adjacent vertical walls ofjuxtaposed units 1, i.e. units 1 disposed ina common horizontal plane.Under these conditions, the side branches 9b of the key extend withinthe relevant unit 1 and the two units 1 thusassembled are safely heldagainst each other as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

When disposing one unit 1 above another identical unit l-alreadyassembled horizontally by means ofa key 9 with a same unit 1, said key 9is locked in position by the downwardly projecting rim of the upperelement or elements. Under these conditions, any untimely removal of key9 is safely prevented and the assembled units are positively coupledwith one another in the horizontal direction without any possibility ofaccidental uncoupling thereof. It will also be seen that the couplingkeys 9 are thus properly concealed within the units 1 so that theirpresence cannot impair the aesthetic appearance of the furniture piecesthus obtained.

Besides, the coupling keys 9 facilitates greatly the side-by-sideassembling of the above-described units 1, i.e.,-in a horizontal plane,without using any tool whatsoever. Thus, these units can be assembled byany unskilled person without difficulty.

As already explained in the foregoing,,the furniture pieces according tothis invention are also designed with a view to accomodate storagedrawers of a specific type as designated by the general referencenumeral 10 in FIG. 1. Preferably, but not compulsorily, these drawersconsist likewise of a suitable molded plastic material.

The dimensions of said drawers are such that each of them can slidefreely in a unit 1, so that all conventional guiding members andslideways can be dispensed with. However, to prevent any undesired andcomplete release or removal of a drawer of this character during itsforward sliding movement, a retaining lug 11 is pro vided on the upperedge of the rear wall 12 of each drawer. This lug 11 is adapted toengage a stop lug 13 depending from the underface of the bottom 4 of thenext superimposed unit 1, this stop 13 being so positioned that thedrawer can normally be opened only partially, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In an advantageous form of embodiment the furniv ture pieces accordingto this invention have a square configuration when seen in plane viewfrom above, so that they can be assembled one above each other withdifferent relative angular settings. Under these conditions, the accessopening of one unit may be disposed in one direction and the accessopening of an adjacent unit in another direction, for example at 90 or180 from the direction of said one unit. However, in this case therelative arrangement of the retaining lugs and stops 11, 13 for eachdrawer must be modified accordingly.

To this end, the lower or underface of the bottom 4 of each unit 1comprises four crossed stiffening ribs 13 each provided with aprojecting lug 14 (FIG. 5), the positions of these lugs 14 beingtherefore off-set. Thus, a pair of lugs 14 of the parallel, opposed ribs13 extend on either side of the axis XX' and the pair of lugs 14 of theother pair of ribs 13 are disposed on either side of the perpendicularaxis Y-Y' (see FIG. 5).

Now the retaining lug 11 carried by the rear wall 12 of each drawer isalso off-set in relation to the longitudinal axis of the drawer, on thesame side as the stop lug 14 of rib 13 located near the opening of theunit 1 overlying the unit containing the drawer concerned.

ble-height units la and standard units 1, with Thus, when the drawer ispulled out thisrctaining lug it 11 engages the stoplug l4 irrespectiveof the angular shown in dash and dot lines by raising its front end.

Under these conditions,.the retaining lug 11 can clear the correspondingstop lug 14 of the adjacent overlying unit 1 from beneath, so that theuser can easily remove I i the drawer when necessary.

In addition to the box-shaped units 1, a series of elements 17 adaptedto constitute covers therefor are .provided. Each cover or top plate 17comprises a plate formed with a downwardly projecting rim 18 similar tothe rim 5 of units 1. Besides, the inner face of this rim 18 comprisesanchoring projections 7 identical with those formed on the lower rim 5of said unitsl and these projections 7 are also adapted snappily toengage openings or notches 6 formed in the upper edge 2 of the top mostunit 1 of a tier of such units. Thus, each vertical tier can be closedat itstop by a cover plate 17.

Due to the specific design and constructional details of the furniturepieces according to this invention, it "is possible to arrange thesepieces to suit any desired assembly varying in size and relativeposition. Besides, in

addition to the basic or standard box-shaped units 1 de scribedhereinabove, other units In of same shape but I having twice the modularheight may be provided; fi-

nally, a wide range of combinations may be contem-i plated withoutdeparting from the basic principle of the invention. Thus, FIG. 10illustrates by way of example one of these multiple combinations inwhich such dou or without drawers 10, are associated.

In order to further increase the versatility of use and the field ofapplications of the furniture pieces of this invention, base units 19supported by casters 20 maybe provided, each base unit 19 being adaptedto carry one or several tiers or units 1 or 1a. To this end, each baseunit 19 comprises an upper rim 21 adapted to serve the same purpose asthe upper edge 2 of units 1. Each side of said rim 21 has formed thereinopenings 6 adapted to be snappily engaged by the anchoring projections 7of units 1. Besides, each side of said rim 21 comprises a notch 8engageable by a coupling key 9 for assem bling the caster-supported,base unit 19 with another base unit 19 in side by side relationship.

However, manyother, accessory and ancillary elements or units may becontemplated with a view to further extend the range of possible.applications and com-. I binations of the furniture pieces of thisinvention. In

ing substantially box-shaped units adapted to be juxtaposed andsuperposed, each unit comprising a bottom, a pair of sidewalls, abackwall and a front access aperture, each of said walls having an upperedge portion which is thinner than the remainder of the respective wall,a rim projecting downwardly from said bottom of eachunit and adapted tofit around an edge portion. of

an underlying unit, a notch in said upper edge portion of at least oneof said walls adapted to register with a similar notch formed in ajuxtaposed unit, at least one substantially H-shaped flat key comprisinga central web and a pair of flanges projecting substantially normal tosaid web from opposite ends and respectively to opposite sides of saidweb, said web being adapted to be located in the notches of said upperedge portions of a pair of juxtaposed units with the flanges thereonengaging the inner surfaces of abutting walls of said units, and anadditional notch in said rim in vertical alignment with each notch insaid upper edge portion, said web beingadapted to be also located in theadditional notches ofa pair of units superimposed upon said pair of thejuxtaposed units.

2. Set of furniture pieces as set forth in claim 1 wherein a notch isformed in each sidewall.

3. A set of furniture pieces to be assembled comprising substantiallybox-shaped units adapted to be juxtaposed and superposed, each unitcomprising a bottom, a pair of sidewalls, a back wall and a front accessaperture, each of said walls having an upper edge portion which isthinner than the remainder of the respective wall, a rim projectingdownwardly from said bottom of each unit and adapted to fit around theedge portion of an underlying unit, a notch in said upper edge portionof at least one of said walls adapted to register with a similar notchformed in a juxtaposed unit, at least one substantially H-shaped flatkey comprising a central web and a pair of flanges projectingsubstantially normal to said web from opposite ends and respectively toopposite sides of said web, said web being adapted to be located in thenotches of said upper edge portions of a pair of juxtaposed units withthe flanges thereon engaging the inner surfaces of abutting walls ofsaid units, a plurality of drawers each adapted to fit easily into oneof said units to be guided by said side walls, said drawers having upperedges which are located below said keys when said drawers are insertedin said units, the rear wall of each drawer comprising an integral lugprojecting upwardly from the upper edge of the rear wall of the drawerand being offset in relation to the axis of the drawer, four crossedstiffening ribs carried by the lower face of the bottom of each unit andeach provided with a downwardly projecting'stop lug, said stop lug beingoffset in relation to the axis of the drawer in an underlying unit sothat one of said stop lugs is adapted to engage the lug projectingupwardly from the upper edge of the rear wall of the drawer in anunderlying unit when said drawer is partly withdrawn from the respectiveunit, regardless whether the access openings of the superimposed unitsface in the same or in different directions.

4. Set of furniture pieces as set forth in claim 3, wherein the bottomof each drawer comprising an upwardly inclined rear portion adapted tofacilitate the tilting of the drawer by raising the front end thereofand thus enable its projecting lug to clear the corresponding stop lugwhen it is desired to remove the drawer from its unit. Y

5. Set of furniture pieces as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of saidunits is, in a cross-section parallel to said bottom, of squareconfiguration, and in which the upper edge portion of each of said wallsis provided with a central notch.

1. A set of furniture pieces to be assembled comprising substantiallybox-shaped units adapted to be juxtaposed and superposed, each unitcomprising a bottom, a pair of sidewalls, a backwall and a front accessaperture, each of said walls having an upper edge portion which isthinner than the remainder of the respective wall, a rim projectingdownwardly from said bottom of each unit and adapted to fit around anedge portion of an underlying unit, a notch in said upper edge portionof at least one of said walls adapted to register with a similar notchformed in a juxtaposed unit, at least one substantially H-shaped flatkey comprising a central web and a pair of flanges projectingsubstantially normal to said web from opposite ends and respectively toopposite sides of said web, said web being adapted to be located in thenotches of said upper edge portions of a pair of juxtaposed units withthe flanges thereon engaging the inner surfaces of abutting walls ofsaid units, and an additional notch in said rim in vertical alignmentwith each notch in said upper edge portion, said web being adapted to bealso located in the additional notches of a pair of Units superimposedupon said pair of the juxtaposed units.
 2. Set of furniture pieces asset forth in claim 1 wherein a notch is formed in each sidewall.
 3. Aset of furniture pieces to be assembled comprising substantiallybox-shaped units adapted to be juxtaposed and superposed, each unitcomprising a bottom, a pair of sidewalls, a back wall and a front accessaperture, each of said walls having an upper edge portion which isthinner than the remainder of the respective wall, a rim projectingdownwardly from said bottom of each unit and adapted to fit around theedge portion of an underlying unit, a notch in said upper edge portionof at least one of said walls adapted to register with a similar notchformed in a juxtaposed unit, at least one substantially H-shaped flatkey comprising a central web and a pair of flanges projectingsubstantially normal to said web from opposite ends and respectively toopposite sides of said web, said web being adapted to be located in thenotches of said upper edge portions of a pair of juxtaposed units withthe flanges thereon engaging the inner surfaces of abutting walls ofsaid units, a plurality of drawers each adapted to fit easily into oneof said units to be guided by said side walls, said drawers having upperedges which are located below said keys when said drawers are insertedin said units, the rear wall of each drawer comprising an integral lugprojecting upwardly from the upper edge of the rear wall of the drawerand being offset in relation to the axis of the drawer, four crossedstiffening ribs carried by the lower face of the bottom of each unit andeach provided with a downwardly projecting stop lug, said stop lug beingoffset in relation to the axis of the drawer in an underlying unit sothat one of said stop lugs is adapted to engage the lug projectingupwardly from the upper edge of the rear wall of the drawer in anunderlying unit when said drawer is partly withdrawn from the respectiveunit, regardless whether the access openings of the superimposed unitsface in the same or in different directions.
 4. Set of furniture piecesas set forth in claim 3, wherein the bottom of each drawer comprising anupwardly inclined rear portion adapted to facilitate the tilting of thedrawer by raising the front end thereof and thus enable its projectinglug to clear the corresponding stop lug when it is desired to remove thedrawer from its unit.
 5. Set of furniture pieces as set forth in claim3, wherein each of said units is, in a cross-section parallel to saidbottom, of square configuration, and in which the upper edge portion ofeach of said walls is provided with a central notch.